? Let's talk tiny poops

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Rachel

Rachel

Member Since 2013
Because this is the one place we can talk about these things without people thinking we're crazy! So my Tigress has these SUPER thin poops. She's had them for quite some time (I can't even recall how long) but I'm looking for advice on bulking them up. We've had anal gland issues (lovely) and I'm thinking if she had some bulkier poops, that would help clean those out so we don't have to GET them cleaned out. We feed Tiki Cat and add plenty of water...so my question to you lovely people is WHAT bulks up cat poop? I have a few thoughts, but I wanted to see what you've all tried that has worked too so I can add it to my arsenal and try different things until something works for us!

Thanks for all your help, guys!
 
Hey Bobbie! Nah, I'm not. I'm thinking of going there eventually, but not right now. Her poops are just supppperrrr thin, like thinner than a pencil around.
 
Do you mean like string beans and more black then brown? For us that's the first thing before diarrhea but judging by your joined date you've probably thought that out already.
 
The thin pencil like poos are the beginning of loose mushy pudding type bm's for my cat. He has IBD though and this happens now and then. Sounds like he may possibly need more fiber. Maybe even a different cat food to try. You could try pumpkin puree but sometimes it works to loosen bm's too much, depending on the amount given.
 
A topic very much on my mind this past week!!! My civvie, Willow, has been having very small poops. I have been putting pumpkin in their food every day for quite some time now. While it seems to help keeping them regular, the poop is still pretty small. Last Tuesday, Willow had an anal sac rupture (OUCH). My poor baby. It was a big open wounds. We took her to the emergency vet, and they expressed the other side and cleaned up the wound and shaved around it. She has been wearing a cone since then and on antibiotics and, initially, was also on pain medicine. I am giving a little more pumpkin now, but I plan to try guar gum instead to see how that goes. Psyllium is another option.

CatInfo.org has info on this.
The two treatments that will be discussed in this section are Miralax (or its generic equivalent) and soluble fiber (e.g., guar gum, pumpkin, and psyllium).
  • Miralax increases fecal water content without increasing bulk/diameter. It is a laxative (made for humans) that can be found at pharmacies and some grocery stores.
  • Soluble fiber increases fecal water content but also increases bulk. Soluble fiber (versus insoluble fiber) may also play a beneficial role in intestinal health since it is fermented to short chain fatty acids which nourish the cells of the colon and also promote healthy bacteria.
Soluble fiber such as guar gum: Start with 1/16 tsp once or twice-daily (use one half of a 1/8 tsp measuring spoon) – add extra water (1-2 tablespoons) to the meal or an amount just short of your cat refusing to eat the food. Fiber absorbs water like a sponge and then swells thereby adding bulk to the feces. Therefore, we want to add extra water to the food.

Many people use pumpkin (canned – plain….not pumpkin pie filling with added sugar and spices) but some cats do not like it. I prefer guar gum because it is more convenient and is not an unnecessary source of carbohydrates for our carnivores. It lasts forever (it is not perishable) and most cats readily eat it when mixed into their food. If you want to try pumpkin, use 1/2 – 1 teaspoon 2-3 times per day mixed into their food. Some people freeze the pumpkin in ice cube trays for convenience.

Psyllium husk powder is also an option. Start with 1/4 tsp once or twice daily and increase or decrease from there as needed.
 
I should add.. the pumpkin has helped. I saw some of the spaghetti-thin poops before I started it, and do not see anything that small now. I do see really small poop balls though, and obviously, they are not large enough to properly express her anal glands. Giving more pumpkin probably would do the trick, but rather than add those carbs, I want to try the guar gum, as soon as I find it.
 
Thanks, all! Yes, Noah, I mean pencil thin and a darker color...and it's been going on at least a year, so probably not the beginning of diarrhea. I think we do just need more fiber...I'll look into all you suggested and get going on it! :)
 
Our three cats are on:
- Fancy Feast classics
- Some dry kibble, high protein (about 10% of their food)

We are lucky. In general good poops. Since we are talking the dark side here - Leo makes some big logs. It's like "Leo, that is quite the creation for such a small cat". I don't know how such small cats make huge Lincoln Logs.
 
Try coping with very big logs from a very big cat where you have to clear the house because he does not like to cover it! He jumps out of the box as fast as he can and runs away. Can't blame him really. Ha
My guy is also a Leo.
 
Little Dude won't go in the litter box. Maybe we are lucky. He goes out in the yard and covers it. I think we could use it as a secret weapon to take out a squadron of army dudes - it is stinky to the max.
 
Phoebes said:
Pumpkin has carbs??
Click to expand...
The amounts given are usually tiny, but yes, pumpkin does have carbs. In the quote I pasted above from catinfo.org, Dr. Lisa says, " I prefer guar gum because it is more convenient and is not an unnecessary source of carbohydrates for our carnivores."
 
Yes it has carbs but the glycemic load is low even though the glycemic index is moderate. It's confusing but everything I've read seems to indicate it is ok to eat even if you're diabetic. (not pumpkin pie though)
 
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